5 Free Things New Orleans

Why it made the list: The heart of the French Quarter: a leafy square framed by the triple-spired St. Louis Cathedral, ringed by street artists, tarot readers, brass bands and mule-drawn carriages. It's the most New Orleans image there is, and it costs nothing to soak in.

Why it made the list: Three blocks of clubs in the Marigny where the city's best live jazz, funk and brass spills into the street, most nights with no cover or just a few dollars. It's where locals go to hear music, and simply walking it is a free show.

Why it made the list: One of the most beautiful walks in America, and it's free: antebellum mansions, oak-canopied streets and iron fences, all reachable on the historic streetcar. The architecture alone is worth the trip Uptown.

Why it made the list: The Moon Walk promenade along the river at the edge of the Quarter, and the modern Crescent Park downriver, give you open skyline-and-river views, passing steamboats and a breeze off the water. It's the best free sunset in the city.

Why it made the list: Beside the art museum in City Park, this free sculpture garden threads modern works among ancient oaks, lagoons and Spanish moss. It's a genuinely world-class collection in a gorgeous setting, and admission costs nothing.